In a bold twist, former MotoGP world champion Fabio Quartararo has refuted claims that he has finalized a contract with Honda for the 2027 season, yet he openly acknowledged that discussions are indeed taking place with the prestigious motorcycle manufacturer.
The future trajectory of the 2021 champion has been a hot topic in the motorcycle racing community this winter, especially as speculation surrounding the 2027 rider market heats up. Just last week, Motorsport stirred the pot by reporting that Quartararo had inked a two-year agreement with Honda, set to kick off in the 2027 season. However, when approached by the official MotoGP website while entering the Sepang paddock for last week’s shakedown test, Quartararo chose to keep things vague. "There’s too much chatter!" he quipped in response to inquiries from MotoGP.com. "Let’s concentrate on what we can actually control."
As he prepared for this week’s official Sepang test, Quartararo faced the media directly for the first time and clarified that no formal deal for 2027 has been signed at this point. "Honda is one of the teams I’m discussing possibilities with," he revealed. "I intend to take the necessary time to make a decision regarding 2027, but as of now, I don’t have anything on paper. I have the right people supporting me. It’s a risk for me, just as it is for everyone involved. Everyone will try to sway your decision. People can speculate all they want; for me, it’s not about the financial aspect, but rather about the pursuit of victory once more."
Reports suggest that Quartararo’s proposed agreement with Honda could be valued at €15 million. Meanwhile, during Yamaha’s recent launch event, team manager Massimo Meregalli confirmed that discussions about renewing Quartararo’s contract had not yet commenced. Back in 2024, Quartararo had signed a two-year deal worth approximately €12 million annually, influenced by the technical guidance of Max Bartolini. However, his enthusiasm waned after testing initial versions of the Yamaha V4 at the end of last year, which he found underwhelming.
Amidst the swirling rumors about Quartararo’s future, there are reports indicating that Jorge Martin, the 2024 world champion, is poised to take his spot at Yamaha. Additionally, on February 2nd, just a day before the testing was set to begin, Aprilia officially announced a new two-year contract with Marco Bezzecchi.
Lewis became part of the Crash.net team in August 2024, bringing with him five years of experience as a journalist covering MotoGP for the Motorsport Network.
